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Published: 1 October, 2020

produced a summary report of this co-define phase. In response to the co-define phase feedback, we have developed the He Ara Āwhina framework to monitor and assess the mental health and addiction system as a whole, not just the services that people receive. We are doing this by listening to people

Published: 23 October, 2024

Government recently announced that six new Crisis Recovery Cafés will be rolled out around the country over the next two years. The benefits of this type of care model are examined in our recently released insights paper on acute options for mental health care. Our Lived Experience team prepared

Published: 13 December, 2023

;  We are proud of the work we have done to highlight what is important for the wellbeing of rangatahi and young people in Aotearoa. By drawing on what rangatahi and young people have shared with us and a review of literature we identified four major themes that need action to improve wellbeing

Published: March 2024

experiences within a health system that too often fails to prioritise Te Ao Māori and tikanga Māori principles. These voices shed light on the challenges faced by Māori communities and emphasises the urgent need for change.  Ka whakamana ake tēnei pūrongo i te reo o te Māori e whakatakoto ana i ō

Published: February 2026

Download Mental Health Bill submission pdf, 284 KB Since our formation Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has contributed to policy development to ensure Aotearoa New Zealand has mental health law based on human rights and eliminates coercive practices or reduces them to the

Published: 20 May, 2025

Aotearoa New Zealand is included in a new report from Unicef that provides critical insight into child wellbeing in the world’s wealthier countries between 2018-2022. Dr Ella Cullen, Director Wellbeing System Leadership and Insights, reflects on our country’s poor ranking in Report Card 19: Fragile

Published: 10 March, 2026

In this article Karen Orsborn, Chief Executive, outlines what needs to be done to promote online safety for rangatahi and young people.  Online spaces are now integrated into many young people’s lives, and Aotearoa New Zealand has some of the highest rates of youth engagement in online media

Published: January 2026

Our leadership team provides strategic guidance for Te Hiringa Mahara -- Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. The team includes Chief Executive, Karen Orsborn, and four directors who are responsible for our core workstreams.  Karen Orsborn, Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive Karen is the Chief

Published: January 2026

The Te Hiringa Mahara Board is chaired by Hayden Wano. The board members are Professor Sunny Collings, Dr Barbara Disley, Rae Lamb, Wayne Langford, Tuari Potiki and Josiah Tualamali'i. Appointments to the Board were announced on 18 December 2020 by the Minister of Health. The announcement was

Published: 30 June, 2022

Ara Āwhina [DOCX, 108 KB] Addiction services Services that exist to respond to the experiences, needs, and aspirations of tāngata whaiora and whānau who experience harm from substances or harm from gambling, substance addiction, or non-substance addiction. Coercive practises Practises where